Video Beat
By Ethile Ann Vare
Oswego Palladium - February 9, 1987

Accepting a songwriting award from ASCAP in Florida, musician Tom Petty spoke out against the "source licensing" legislation now in Congress. What's involved are two bills that composers feel will negatively affect their potential income from songs broadcast on non-network television.

"We have a fight in front of us here," said Petty. "Songs are very precious; they last forever. They affect our children, they belong to our children's children. Let's see that America finally respects its artists the way it should -- whether it be Lenny Brin or Tennessee Williams or Elvis Presley."